Latin American Office

The Latin American office of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Centro Simon Wiesenthal - Latinoamerica, based in Buenos Aires, expands the Wiesenthal Center's agenda in the Latin American region by monitoring and combating antisemitism and bigotry and identifying and extraditing Nazi war criminals by working with government officials, members of the media, and local communities.

Simon Wiesenthal Center Latin America

SWC Latin American representative Sergio Widder speaking at a rally at the Federal Court Building in Buenos Aires, calling for justice for the bombing of the AMIA (Jewish Community Center) Building in July 1994, killing 86.

Played a key role in the identification and extradition of a number of Nazi war criminals including Erich Priebke, a former SS officer who was responsible for the infamous massacre at the Ardeatine Caves in Italy, and Dinko Sakic and his wife, Nada Sakic, who were charged with crimes against humanity in Croatia

Has been active in confronting the growth and spread of neo-Nazi activity in Latin America by proposing regional legislation to governement officials in Chile and Bolivia, stopping the International neo-Nazi Congress from convening in Chile in 2000, testifying against a hate video and book publisher that promoted its catalog on line which resulted in their prosecution, and identifying an Uruguayan neo-Nazi group, "Orgullo Skinhead" ("Skinhead Pride")

Produced SkinHitler, a Public Service Announcement showing that Nazism did not die with the demise of Adolf Hitler. The PSA was shown at theaters, on television, with print ads in subways, and received the 1999 Bronze Clio Award.

SWC Director for International Liaison Shimon Samuels and Sergio Widder meeting with Chilean President Ricardo Lagos to discuss cooperation between his government and the Wiesenthal Center in the area of Tolerance education.

Is a constituent member of the Commission for the Investigation of Nazi Activities in Argentina (CEANA) and meets on a regular basis with high ranking government officials in the region. It has urged the Presidents of Argentina and Chile, and Paraguayan authorities to take initiatives in bringing the issue of Nazis in Latin America to a regional level

The opening of the Wiesenthal Center's "Courage to Remember" exhibit at the Catholic University of Chile in Santiago.

Was the first organization given access to the Argentine Central Bank records showing post-war gold transfers from Europe to Argentina. It then contacted similar institutions in the region to trace the evidence of Nazi gold arrival in South America

Sergio Widder at the founding meeting of the SWC Latin American Office, Buenos Aires.

Has been active in confronting the growth and spread of neo-Nazi activity in Latin America by proposing regional legislation to governement officials in Chile and Bolivia, stopping the International neo-Nazi Congress from convening in Chile in 2000, testifying against a hate video and book publisher that promoted its catalog on line which resulted in their prosecution, and identifying an Uruguayan neo-Nazi group, "Orgullo Skinhead" ("Skinhead Pride")

Monitor the progress of the investigations into the terrorist attacks against the Israeli Embassy and AMIA, the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires. The Center organizes and participates in activities expressing solidarity with the families of the victims, and with Memoria Activa (Active Memory), a group of victim's families and Jewish professionals

Monitors and responds to antisemitic outbreaks in the region: desecration of Jewish cemeteries; religious hate; revisionism; and anti-Zionism. In one case, the Center led the protest that resulted in the resignation of former Argentine Justice Minister Rodolfo Barra; for his involvement in Nazi groups during his youth

Participates in conferences and tolerance educational activities in private and public schools and educational institutions providing educational materials at no charge